甘平无毒。剑脊细尾者佳,忌犯铁器。
发明 蛇性主风,而黑色属水,故治诸风顽痹,皮肤不仁,风瘙瘾疹,疥癣热毒,眉须
脱落 痒等疮。但白花蛇主肺藏之风,为白癜风之专药。乌蛇主肾藏之风,为紫癜风之专药
。两者主治悬殊,而乌蛇则性善无毒耳。
肉大热,胆微寒并有毒。
发明 诸蛇皆是卵生,惟蝮蛇破母腹出,恶毒尤烈,故以蝮名。其状较诸蛇迥异,形短
而粗,嘴尖鼻反,故又名反鼻蛇。有头斑身赤如锦纹者,有黄黑青黑而斑白者,皆蝮蛇也。
有头扁与土同色而无纹者,土虺也,亦名曰 ,字形相类之误也。时珍曰∶蝮大虺小,其毒
则一。抱朴子言∶蛇类最多,惟虺中人甚急,即时以刀割去疮肉投之于地,其热如炙,须臾
毒尽,人乃得活。一种形如蜥蜴,长一二尺者,千岁蝮也。年久脚生,能跳上树啮人啮己,
还树垂头听人哭声,头尾相类,大如捣衣杵,俗名望板归,言被其啮必死,专望板归以备殓
具也。苏颂以细辛、雄黄等分为末,内疮口中,日易三四次。又以栝蒌根、桂末着管中密塞
勿令走气,佩之,中其毒者急敷之。《野谈翁方》急以黄荆叶捣烂敷之,上皆解救之法。然
有用其毒以攻疾厄之毒者。《别录》取蝮蛇肉酿酒,以疗癞疾。蝮蛇胆磨汁以涂 疮,总取
杀虫攻毒之用耳。窃谓攻毒急救之药颇多,奚必借此而为异端之术哉,姑存以备解救之法可
也。
(Sanguis Trimeresurus / Black Snake) Sweet, neutral, non-toxic. Those with a sword-like dorsal ridge and fine tail are superior; avoid contact with iron tools.
Invention: Snakes possess properties primarily directed at dispelling wind. Since black corresponds to Water in the Five Phases, they treat various stubborn bi-syndromes caused by wind, skin insensibility, wind-induced pruritic urticaria (feng sao yin zhen), tinea, hot-toxin sores, and conditions such as loss of eyebrows and beard accompanied by itching. However, Baihua She (Bungarus multicinctus) primarily treats wind affecting the Lung organ and is the specific drug for vitiligo (bai dian feng). Wushao She (Zaocys dhumnades) primarily treats wind affecting the Kidney organ and is the specific drug for erythrasma/vitiligo variegatus (zi dian feng). Their therapeutic indications differ significantly, but Wushao She is gentle in nature and non-toxic.
(Meat of Agkistrodon / Viper) Extremely hot in nature; (Gallbladder of Agkistrodon) slightly cold and toxic.
Invention: All snakes are oviparous, but only the Agkistrodon (Fu She) breaks out from the mother's womb, possessing particularly fierce toxicity, hence its name. Its appearance differs markedly from other snakes: it has a short, thick body, a pointed snout, and an upturned nose, thus also called "Fan Bi She" (Reverse-Nose Snake). Some have head markings and red bodies like brocade patterns; others are yellow-black or blue-black with white spots; these are all Fu She. Some have flat heads, soil-colored bodies without markings; these are Tu Hui (Earth Viper), which is also a typo for " " due to similar character forms. Li Shizhen stated: Fu She is large, Hui is small, but their toxicity is identical. Ge Hong in *Baopuzi* stated: Among the many types of snakes, the Hui bites most urgently. Immediately cut away the flesh around the wound and throw it on the ground; the heat feels like burning, and after a moment the toxin is exhausted, allowing survival. Another type resembles a lizard, one or two chi long, is the Thousand-Year Fu She. After many years, legs grow, enabling it to jump onto trees to bite humans or itself. It hangs its head listening to human crying. Head and tail look similar, size like a laundry pestle. Commonly called "Wang Ban Gui" (Expectation of Coffin Board), implying that being bitten leads to certain death, necessitating preparation of coffin boards. Su Song recommended grinding equal parts of Asari Radix et Rhizoma (Xixin) and Realgar (Xionghuang) into powder, applying it inside the wound, changing 3-4 times daily. Also, place Trichosanthis Radix (Gualou Gen) and Cinnamomi Cortex powder (Guim) in a tube, seal tightly to prevent volatilization, wear it, and if bitten, apply immediately. *Yetan Weng Fang* records crushing Huangjing Ye (Celtis Leaf) for emergency application. These are all rescue methods. However, some utilize its toxicity to attack pathological toxins within the body. *Mingyi Bie Lu* records making wine with Fu She meat to treat leprosy (Lai Ji). Applying gallbladder juice to treat sores utilizes its insect-killing and toxin-attacking properties. I believe there are many drugs for attacking toxins and emergency rescue; why rely on this as an heterodox method? It may be preserved provisionally for reference in rescue scenarios.